Neeraj Chopra, the only Indian Olympic gold medalist in track and field, advocated for enhancing the appeal and marketability of the sport for Indian fans during an event in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
Neeraj Chopra advocates for international athletics competitions to reach living rooms of fans through live telecast; speaks at RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India
Chopra was speaking at the RCB Innovation Lab‘s Leaders Meet: India, a gathering of global sports leaders. He discussed the obstacles hindering the popularity of track and field among Indian viewers.
“International competitions like the Diamond League, Continental Tours, and World Athletics Championships should be broadcast in India,” said Chopra. “Currently, only highlights are aired, despite people’s eagerness to watch these events live. Broadcasting these events would increase audience engagement, understanding, and awareness.”
The RCB Innovation Lab is a pioneering initiative that connects international sports giants to foster a participatory platform for influential dialogues and innovative idea exchanges. The Leaders Meet: India event aims to provide a comprehensive perspective on the current and future landscape of the sports industry, promoting insights into the transformative factors that are ushering India into a new era of sports excellence and business innovation.
Chopra, who hails from Haryana, has had an exceptional year with gold wins at the 2022 Asian Games and 2023 World Athletics Championships. He’s anticipated to continue his successful streak at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
He also highlighted the remarkable growth of India’s sports ecosystem and how hosting international events could revolutionize athletics in India.
“If countries like Kenya and Grenada can regularly host world-class international athletics competitions, India certainly has the potential to do the same,” Chopra asserted. “World Athletics Organization representatives have shown interest in hosting tournaments in India. Such events would allow more people to experience these championships in person and draw inspiration from them.”
The 25-year-old athlete also shared some personal highlights from his career, including his record-breaking throw at the World Junior Championships in Poland and his life-altering victory at the Tokyo Olympics.
Discussing his post-festival training plans, he humorously mentioned, “My preparations will start with shedding the extra weight gained over the holidays. I indulged in milk, ghee, churma, and sweets at home, but I know that once I kickstart my training, I’ll be back on track within a couple of weeks.”
The RCB Innovation Lab Leaders Meet: India wrapped up on November 30.
